Breakfast Foods That Are Braces-Friendly!

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At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, Dr. Kevin Horner and Dr. Keri Barrow understand how hard it can be to get your child to eat the recommended daily allowance of healthy grains, fruits and vegetables. As many parents already know, kids can be finicky eaters. How many times has your child hid their serving of broccoli under a dollop of mashed potatoes, or tried to sneak their green beans to the family dog?

The task of providing fun, nutritious meals becomes even more challenging when your child is wearing braces. It’s a well-known fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day for all of us. A healthy breakfast provides our bodies with the necessary fuel to start our day off on a positive note. The following braces-friendly breakfast food suggestions are not only nutritious, but also delicious.

• A healthy breakfast provides energy to start the day and it also revs up the body’s metabolism. A smoothie can be a good source of fruit, protein and fiber, and it’s also gentle on braces. Plus, smoothies are fun to make. You can toss anything in the blender (plain, low-fat Greek yogurt, bananas, strawberries, and spinach to name a few) and create a drink that’s loaded with protein,  vitamins and antioxidants.

• Scrambled eggs. Scrambled eggs are soft, and therefore, easy to eat if you have braces. If covered in ketchup (which many kids like to do), eggs become even softer. Minimal chewing is needed, and that’s the key to a braces-friendly recipe.

• Hard, crunchy cereals or granola for breakfast is not a good choice if you wear braces. Bite down on a hard chunk, and you could loosen a bracket, or break a wire. You can, however, get a serving of whole grains by replacing that crunchy cereal with cooked oatmeal. This soft, easy-to-chew breakfast treat has plenty of health benefits. The best option is quick-cook oats that you can add your choice of nuts and berries to, rather than those presweetened packets of instant oats. A time-saver for your busy mornings is to make the oatmeal ahead of time, in the evening. Do an online search for overnight oats; you’ll be pleasantly surprised at all of the tasty suggestions that come up for easy-to-assemble recipes that will be ready to eat the next morning!

• Pancakes may NOT be the most healthy option for breakfast. However, this weekend breakfast favorite IS braces-friendly. Strive to make your pancakes healthier by adding blueberries in the pancake batter.

• All-bran, whole-grain (or multi-grain) pumpkin, banana, blueberry or apple muffins are another good way to start the day. Pull out your favorite recipe and bake a batch of homemade muffins on the weekend, and you’ll have a quick, handy breakfast for several weekday mornings. Just remember to omit the nuts!

• Toast (lightly-browned) is an acceptable option, but start by using healthy, whole-wheat or whole-grain bread. Up the protein factor by spreading your toast with a little bit of creamy (not chunky) peanut or almond butter, and just say no to that overly-sweet jelly. Instead, add a bit of a natural, all-fruit jam to cut down on the sugar. When wearing braces, the best course of action is to avoid foods that are hard or chewy. These types of foods can break wires. Some kids might think that toast isn’t the most exciting breakfast food, but it IS braces-friendly.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient in the Sioux Falls, SD area. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Ways to Pay for Orthodontic Treatment

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Paying for braces can be a significant financial investment for many families in the Sioux Falls, SD area. That investment becomes even greater when several family members need braces or orthodontic treatment. Also, some types of orthodontics can be more expensive than others. Understanding the various options available for paying for braces can help to remove some of the financial stress. Drs. Kevin Horner and Keri Barrow want you to have all of the information you need to make an informed decision about how your family will pay for orthodontic treatment.

Dental Insurance. Insurance is one of the most common ways to pay for braces. It is important to understand that not all dental plans offer coverage for braces, but the right plan can help to cover a significant portion of the cost for braces. In choosing a dental insurance package, it is important to focus on finding a package that specifically covers orthodontists. The precise coverage provided will vary from plan to plan, but many dental insurance plans will help to take approximately 50 percent off the total cost of braces. When shopping for a dental plan, it should be understood that most plans will not provide coverage if the patient is already undergoing orthodontic treatment. Also, some plans require a waiting (or grace) period, so it is important that you do not wait until orthodontic treatment is deemed necessary to begin shopping for dental insurance. Otherwise, you may find that treatment is not covered, or that you need to delay treatment until the waiting period has passed.

Our Affordable Payment Plans. The cost of your orthodontic treatment will vary depending on your individual needs and treatment plan. The staff here at Horner Barrow Orthodontics will gladly discuss with you the cost of your treatment, and each available payment plan option, so that you can make the best choice for you and your smile. We will work with you to create a payment plan that fits your budget, and that you will know what to expect before beginning treatment.

For your convenience, we are flexible on our payment plans and we accept payment from insurance companies. Payments are also accepted on Visa and Mastercard. We are happy to assist you and your family whenever possible to choose the best payment plan for you.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Braces-Friendly Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff

It’s mid-January here in Sioux Falls, SD. That means cold, snowy weather. Maybe you like to go skiing, cross-country or downhill, snowboarding, tubing, sledding or ice skating. Any of these winter activities can work up a good appetite. Time to pull out your slow-cooker and make some hearty, stick-to-your-ribs comfort food for you and your hungry family! This recipe for Beef Stroganoff (once a weekend or special-occasion dinner) is just the thing to warm everyone up, and can now be served on a weeknight, thanks to this easy slow-cooker recipe.  And, since it’s slow-cooked and tender, it’s a braces-friendly recipe that your favorite orthodontic patient can enjoy, as well!

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Bon appétit from Horner Barrow Orthodontics!

Beef Stroganoff 

 (15 minutes prep time • 5 hours, 15 minutes total time
 • Serves 8)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter
2 lb boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 3×1/2×1/4-inch strips
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed golden mushroom soup
1 package (8 ounces) sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 ounces cream cheese, cubed (from 8-ounce package)
1 container (8 ounces) sour cream
6 cups hot cooked noodles or rice

Directions:
1. In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add beef strips, onion and garlic; cook 7 to 9 minutes or until beef is browned.
2. In 3 1/2- to 4 1/2-quart slow cooker, mix beef mixture, soup, mushrooms, salt and pepper.
3. Cover; cook on low heat setting 5 to 6 hours or until beef is tender.
4. Stir cream cheese into beef mixture until melted. Stir in sour cream until well blended. Serve over noodles.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, Dr. Kevin Horner, Dr. Keri Barrow, and the entire staff are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every one of our patients. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.

Source (recipe and photo)

A New Year, A New Smile, A NEW YOU!

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Happy 2017 from all of us at Horner Barrow Orthodontics! Every January, millions of people resolve to change their lives for the better in the new year. Often, those resolutions involve losing weight, exercising more, or similar healthy habits. But there is one resolution that could truly improve your health and your life in many ways, with no costly gym membership required. It’s a resolution for good oral health.

The new year is a great time to reevaluate yourself, and make those changes you’ve been thinking about, like a beautiful, healthy smile. Orthodontics can be a solution for many aesthetic dental issues, such as crowding, spacing, or teeth sticking out. A healthy mouth can improve your physical well-being, and it can also give you more confidence to help you achieve other positive changes in your life.

Adults will often ask themselves these questions when they think about traditional orthodontic treatment: “Am I too old?” “What will other people think?” “How will I look?” Remember, it’s never too late to get the new smile you’ve been dreaming of. Thanks to today’s technology, there are more alternatives to traditional braces than ever before. Clear brackets and Invisalign® are less visible, but effective, options to meet your orthodontic treatment needs.

An improved smile is just one of the many benefits of orthodontics; there are also many health benefits. Aligning the teeth makes them easier to clean, thus reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease. Orthodontics can also give you a more balanced bite for overall improved function. Last, but certainly not least, orthodontics can enhance your overall well-being. You may feel more stressed when you are embarrassed to smile because you’re self-conscious about your teeth. Others may view your behavior as aloof or standoffish when you don’t intend it to be. On the other hand, if you are happy with your smile, you’ll feel relaxed and confident when talking with others in professional and personal settings. You’ll be comfortable in business meetings, making a presentation, going on a date, or taking a class. Having a confident smile can mean the difference between achieving positive goals in your life and just sitting on the sidelines for another year.

Don’t wait another day for your new smile! Call our Sioux Falls, SD office today to schedule an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Kevin Horner or Dr. Keri Barrow.

At Horner Barrow Orthodontics, we are committed to delivering excellent quality orthodontic treatment to each and every patient. To provide a friendly, caring, and pleasant atmosphere that will ensure our patients feel relaxed and confident about placing their orthodontic care in our hands.